Chapter 7: Fury Meets Ethan
In a not-so-extravagant yet highly secure car which was being driven by a beautiful red-haired lady, Nick Fury, along with his trusted agent Maria Hill, occupied the backseat of the car, leaving the front passenger seat empty.
Agent Hill was busy with her custom-built S.H.I.E.L.D. device, reading the report about Ethan to Nick Fury. The trio was on their way to the office of the New York Real Estate Agency to meet Ethan Alcardo.
S.H.I.E.L.D was able to collect all maximum possible information on Ethan in a very short time interval.
(Few minutes earlier)
In a large room with a floor-to-ceiling glass window sat a man and a lady.
The lady, who appeared to be around 30 years old, was seated in a large pushback chair. Her face was marred by a deep frown and an expression of confusion.
Opposite her, across a large wooden desk, sat Ethan, who was watching the news broadcast on the television; the report was about Tony Stark's landing at the Los Angeles airbase.
The last few days had been full of confusion for Alice, the general manager of the New York Real Estate Agency.
About seven days ago, this man—Ethan Alcardo—had somehow walked into her office unnoticed and unimpeded.
When she inquired about his unexpected entrance, he shamelessly blamed her secretary and other office workers for their incompetence.
She did not think much of it and simply asked what he wanted. What he offered shocked Alice beyond measure.
Her agency had recently begun construction on its largest and flagship project to date in a very scenic area of New York.
The company had acquired a massive piece of land upstate—it was square-shaped, with each sides measuring almost one kilometer.
A snow-covered hill formed a natural barrier on one side of the property, and a beautiful lake was situated at some distance from the land. The company had paid a huge sum of money and lobbied many politicians to secure ownership and the rights to develop the land. The plan was to develop a luxurious resort along with top-end villas for ultra-rich individuals and the true elite of the country who could spend extravagantly.
Now, about seven days ago, this young man had walked in and offered to buy the entire property.
At first, she scoffed at the idea, but somehow, the young man managed to convince her that he would indeed purchase the whole land along with the ongoing project.
Yet, she still doubted that she could have believed anything he said, especially given that his clothes clearly spoke of poverty.
Moreover, he had her draft the contract, and today was the day he was going to pay the first installment.
Alice was still lost in her thoughts when Ethan's phone beeped, and a smile spread across his face.
"Here it is," muttered Ethan as he glanced at the frowning expression on Alice's face.
"What are you so worked up for?" he chuckled.
"Even at your level as a general manager, this deal would be life-changing. Your company did not spend a dime on advertisements or promotions. Agents did not have to run around convincing investors for money and then persuading buyers to purchase. I single-handedly secured 2 billion dollars for you."
"Even if you receive the standard cut of 10%, that would amount to 200 million. However, considering that you sold it in one go without any expenditure, a 15% commission would be an ideal demand," he added.
Alice did not reply. Everything Ethan was saying was true... but only if he fulfilled the terms of the contract.
"You got your money?" she asked in irritation, doubting that this impoverished young man could pay a single penny.
"I just received my first payment, and you will also receive yours," smirked Ethan.
Alice's eyes widened as she asked, "You will pay 80 million today?"
Ethan nodded, and she asked again, "And if you don't pay the first 1 billion in six months and the remaining 1 billion by one year, our company will have the right to take over the land without repaying any money?"
Ethan nodded and asked in amusement. "Didn't I tell you to draft this term into the contract?"
He did not need one year to pay such a 'petty sum,' but any shorter period—even with his manipulative and brilliant brainstorming—would not have convinced Alice to sign the deal.
Ethan used his nearly broken mobile phone to transfer 80 million dollars to the New York Real Estate Agency. Alice's mind was in a daze upon receiving the money, and still in shock, she proceeded with the documentation.
Still in a daze, Alice walked with Ethan until they reached the exit of the agency's building.
He was now a prized customer of the agency and thus deserved proper respect.
As soon as Ethan stepped outside, his eyes landed on a particular car with three individuals inside.
"See you soon, Miss Alice," said Ethan.
"My ride is here." Alice nodded, and Ethan walked toward the car. Before Fury could say a word or step out of the car, Ethan opened the gate and stepped into the front passenger seat of the vehicle.
"I did not know that New York had such beautiful drivers," Ethan remarked as he stepped inside.
He gazed shamelessly at Natasha, though the trained agent showed no visible reaction—she was accustomed to such behaviours.
"Ethan Alcardo," drawled Fury, causing Ethan to turn back in astonishment.
"Oh! It was a shared taxi?" he said after a moment.
The usually calm Maria frowned, "This is not a taxi, Alcardo, and you have no business being in the car."
This was a highly secured car and for a person about whose motive they did not know, letting him inside the car was a risky affair.
Ethan ignored Maria and continued staring at Fury.
He asked with genuine confusion, "Are you into cosplaying? A pirate?"
This remark elicited a visible reaction from Fury, causing his face to twitch at the awful yet repetitive joke.
"Ethan Alcardo…" Fury continued as he calmed his nerve, "we are from S.H.I.E.L.D.—the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division."
"Logistics?" Ethan questioned, catching only the last word. "You are just in time for a new commission. I just bought a new property and needed some help moving my things."
Fury sighed, controlling his anger.
"Ethan Alcardo, an orphan who mostly lived as a daily wage worker— three months ago, you suddenly stopped all kinds of work, just three days after Tony Stark was kidnapped, as if you had vanished. You had no means to sustain yourself for three months, yet you did no work. In these three months, you were rarely caught on any camera, except when you were buying groceries. Ten days ago, you made an online application and registered a consultancy service firm," Fury stated.
"While all this raises a lot of suspicion, there is an even bigger question." Fury's tone grew stern.
"Why did Tony Stark transfer 100 million dollars to your consultancy firm as soon as he landed in Los Angeles?" He questioned as he bore intently into Ethan.
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